IN THE context of a career that has already taken Philippe Coutinho from Vasco da Gama to Inter Milan and Liverpool via Espanyol before he has barely come of age, there is little that should faze him.

Philippe Coutinho wants to show he can cut it against the top sides in Premier League

Yet here is a player who enters uncharted territory this weekend.

Put to one side the mesmeric dribbling and delightful distribution that helped rip Newcastle to shreds last season, look beyond the clever dummy that allowed Daniel Sturridge to claim the winning goal against Aston Villa last week even, and the pocket-sized Brazilian finds himself with one more conundrum still to unlock.

Brought to Liverpool to make the difference, the 21-year-old must do it on the biggest stage.

“I’m well aware the fixture Liverpool v Manchester United creates legends,” said Coutinho.

“I know how important it is to the supporters and throughout the week I’ve been doing everything I can to prepare myself mentally for this game so I can perform well. As a footballer you always envisage certain things about games, scoring goals and things like that. And I always like to be positive when I am preparing for the matches. Every player dreams of scoring the winning goal in such a match.”

It might appear harsh to demand a player, who only arrived at Liverpool last January for £8.5million, to shape a game against the champions in his team-mates’ favour, but the weight of expectation is easily explained.

Firstly, Brendan Rodgers is not over-burdened with players capable of conjuring something out of nothing, so the glare of the spotlight naturally falls on the skilful midfielder.

Secondly, and more importantly, it is the most obvious area of improvement Coutinho needs to make.

Having helped swat aside the Premier League’s also-rans, the top-flight’s A-list opposition have proved tougher assignments both for player and club.

Liverpool failed to register a single victory against the so-called elite in the league last season and while the over-riding memory of Chelsea’s visit to Anfield is of Luis Suarez sinking his teeth into Branislav Ivanovic, it means something different to a player described as having magic in his boots by his manager.

As the second half of that contest unfolded, Coutinho found himself back in his tracksuit and watching from the sidelines, having been unable to break free from the straitjacket Rafa Benitez, who was briefly his manager at Inter Milan, had imposed on him.

Having also been substituted in a game against Tottenham a few weeks earlier, the slight that he is a flat-track bully has grown. Coutinho is determined to show it to be a myth.

“I know that last season against Chelsea I did not do as well as I should, but that’s all in the past now,” he said.

“That match was very intense, all the players were close to each other and I found it hard to get into the rhythm of the game.

“Now I’ve had the experience, I know what to do in order to be prepared for matches like this and play better. The best way I see it is you have to be ready for every single ball, every pass, every challenge. Everything has to be at 100 per cent.”

Still, his popularity is hardly on the wane. Outside Melwood yesterday, it was his car that many of the young autograph hunters were hoping would stop at the training-ground gates and he duly obliged, patiently scribbling his name.

In the club shop, Coutinho’s replica shirt presently out-sells those of Gerrard and Suarez.